Remember back in the day when Mazzotti's on the Arcata Plaza was a prime spot for intimate, engaging and top-notch live entertainment? Brace yourself for a blast from the past, because those days are coming back in full force.

To commemorate a new beginning for the fun that awaits, the venue is hosting a "Venue Re-Launch Party" on Thursday night featuring the bass-filled and dance-inducing tunes of Australian glitch-hop star Opiuo, a seated VIP area with a dedicated host and cocktail service, (sold out) booths with bottle service and a classy, new vibe for live, feast-embellished festivities.

"I love the Humboldt area and people," said Oscar Davey-Wright, also known as Opiuo. "The area reminds me of home in Australia and New Zealand -- I'm excited to come back."

So who will spearhead the new and exciting Mazzotti's manifestation, this venue re-launch? Enter Ole Persson, owner and operator of Diamondback Entertainment -- the man who over the years has helped to provide Humboldt live experiences with Tech N9ne, Rehab, Kid Rock, Moonshine Bandits, Hank 3, Uncle Kracker and many more. Persson has known Mazzotti's owners Joe and Jean Mazzotti for years and has produced some memorable shows at the Arcata Plaza venue on many occasions.

'The pinnacle of those shows I would say was Uncle Kracker in 2009," Persson said. "That show really gave me insight into the potential that the venue possessed to host intimate performances by name-artists that usually play arenas and stadiums."

Given the owner's heavy schedule in running the restaurant, the venue has been on a (sort of) two-year hiatus. Because Persson can't be kept out of the restaurant due to its delicious offerings, the show producer and Joe Mazzotti discussed a re-launch over a meal. After discussing how fans and patrons missed the venue as a hot spot on the Plaza, Persson offered his services as entertainment manager and Joe Mazzotti accepted.

"I feel honored to help revitalize a place that holds a lot of great memories for the community, and I look forward to creating new ones," Persson said. "I always felt Mazzotti's on the Arcata Plaza had a presence of its own that made it unique to be entertained there, and by the sound of things a lot of other people felt the same."

After getting the gig as entertainment-engineer, Persson's friend Eryn Snodgrass of Future Productions asked him what kind of entertainer he was looking for when it came to the re-launch.

"I told him I wanted it to be very festive and bumping -- something that was hard to resist to shake your body to and be in good spirits," Persson said. "He introduced me to Opiuo's sonic landscapes. After listening to the funky fueled rhythms that Opiuo orchestrated I knew he was a perfect fit for the celebration. Eryn agreed to partner up with me and brought his Opiuo show in the fold to give this venue rebirth a worldwide dance appeal that Opiuo promises to deliver with a history of sold-out shows across the globe from America to Australia."

Davey-Wright is a former drummer who eventually shifted to the electronic genre similar to how he moved from his birthplace of New Zealand to his current home in Australia.

"My parents used to hold festivals on their land back in the day. Hippies, punks, rock 'n' roll. And the B-52s," Davey-Wright laughed. "It was awesome to be around parties that were all about the rocking, rolling fun. Plus the early electronic bands of New Zealand all played at these parties. It was hugely inspiring, even if I didn't know it at the time."

In addition to playing his music worldwide, the musician has been covered by the likes of Tipper, Bassnectar and Z-Trip. The Burning Man veteran is looking forward to releasing the follow-up to his latest record, "Butternut Slap - Part 1," in June and remixing one of his idols.

"(The new album) is done," Davey-Wright said. "It's funk. It's fun. I'm so proud of this release. Another great opportunity for me this year will be remixin' Infected Mushroom. They're old-school influences of mine -- I used to listen to their psy (music) back in the early 2000s when I first really got into electronic music. (It was) such a rush when they hit me up."

Opiuo's set on Thursday will be half old, half new. Humboldt's own Second Nature Sound will warm up the crowd at the venue re-launch.

The Diamondback Entertainment owner said he wants the newly revitalized venue to be a place where the "eats harmonize with the spirits."

"I personally hate being bored and it takes a lot to make me feel satisfied entertainment-wise, so I expect nothing less than a beautiful and exciting journey to mark every production that takes place at Mazzotti's on the Arcata Plaza, where audiences contribute as much to the ambience as the performers will," Persson said. "Intimacy and unity will be practiced and praised."

With a maximum occupancy of 380, those who are able to acquire tickets for the future bi-monthly events, that are bound to quickly sell out, will enjoy the seated VIP area to inspire romance among other feelings of entertainment euphoria. The show producer plans to bring in an eclectic array of performers.

While the floor space at Mazzotti's is too small for Persson to bring his famed, mechanical "Butch the Bull" into the venue, the swank spectacle that will be the new venue re-launch will certainly make up for it. Also, if popularity dictates four shows a month, Persson is willing to go that route, but not if it sacrifices integrity.

"One of the biggest concerns I have is to not burn out the venue aspect by over-using it," he said. "I don't want to sacrifice the quality of the events for quantity."

VIP tickets to the venue re-launch can be purchased for $25 at Morning Star Clothing, People's Records, The Works, Humboldt Clothing and online at diamondbackpresents.com.

"Come enjoy the cultivation of a new vision mixed with a tried, true and loved standard that Diamondback Entertainment has honed for over 14 years," Persson said. "Don't be scared to face fears, live life and enjoy the differences in each other. As a venue, Mazzotti's on the Arcata Plaza will be a universal playground that welcomes everyone to explore and be a part of -- add a piece of yourself to the scene and let creativity fly furious!"